Extra post: Air-conditioned bus interchanges - is it a good idea?
“Revamp for Bedok Town Centre” in the Straits Times, 2nd September 2010, announced the proposed building of a new air-conditioned bus interchange in Bedok.
I would like to challenge the reasoning behind installing air-conditioning in a bus interchange. Firstly, since commuters spend generally about 10 minutes in the bus interchange to wait for a bus. I hope that is not a long time to wait in natural conditions.
A well designed non-air-conditioned bus interchange can still protect commuters from the sun and rain, whilst allowing fresh air through. On the other hand, since most of the air in air-conditioned buildings is recirculated, the air quality tends to be worse. Have studies been done on whether dangerous carbon monoxide gas builds up in air-conditioned bus interchanges?
Air-conditioning uses up an immense amount of energy and surely, if Singapore, SMRT and SBS want to trumpet their green credentials, then air-conditioned bus interchanges should not be the way to go. Fossil fuels will run out eventually, and in fact, we are expected to hit peak production of petroleum and natural gas within the next 2 decades. Some studies even claim that we may have already passed peak production. If we continue to waste energy, even if we cover the entire island with solar cells, it will not be able to supply us the energy we need. The Singapore government has been lauded for its far-sightedness, and I hope that we take the future energy crisis threat seriously.
Last but not least, these gigantic energy guzzlers cost not only the Earth, but us, the commuters and tax payers. Rather than spending the money on superficial improvements such as air-conditioned bus interchanges, why not invest in a more efficient transport network?
I would like to challenge the reasoning behind installing air-conditioning in a bus interchange. Firstly, since commuters spend generally about 10 minutes in the bus interchange to wait for a bus. I hope that is not a long time to wait in natural conditions.
A well designed non-air-conditioned bus interchange can still protect commuters from the sun and rain, whilst allowing fresh air through. On the other hand, since most of the air in air-conditioned buildings is recirculated, the air quality tends to be worse. Have studies been done on whether dangerous carbon monoxide gas builds up in air-conditioned bus interchanges?
Air-conditioning uses up an immense amount of energy and surely, if Singapore, SMRT and SBS want to trumpet their green credentials, then air-conditioned bus interchanges should not be the way to go. Fossil fuels will run out eventually, and in fact, we are expected to hit peak production of petroleum and natural gas within the next 2 decades. Some studies even claim that we may have already passed peak production. If we continue to waste energy, even if we cover the entire island with solar cells, it will not be able to supply us the energy we need. The Singapore government has been lauded for its far-sightedness, and I hope that we take the future energy crisis threat seriously.
Last but not least, these gigantic energy guzzlers cost not only the Earth, but us, the commuters and tax payers. Rather than spending the money on superficial improvements such as air-conditioned bus interchanges, why not invest in a more efficient transport network?
The Phoney Bustard carpped on12:28 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home